Changes

A 2009 survey of stormwater BMPs in the James River watershed (Virginia) by the Center for Watershed Protection found approximately half (47%) of the 72 BMPs deviated in one or more ways from the original design, or were receiving inadequate maintenance ([https://www.chesapeakebay.net/channel_files/19219/cwp_james_river_tech_report_final_draft_062509.pdf.pdf CWP, 2009])<ref>Centre for Watershed Protection. 2009. Technical Report

A 2009 survey of stormwater BMPs in the James River watershed (Virginia) by the Center for Watershed Protection found approximately half (47%) of the 72 BMPs deviated in one or more ways from the original design, or were receiving inadequate maintenance ([https://www.chesapeakebay.net/channel_files/19219/cwp_james_river_tech_report_final_draft_062509.pdf.pdf CWP, 2009])<ref>Centre for Watershed Protection. 2009. Technical Report

Stormwater BMPs in Virginia’s James River Basin: An Assessment of Field Conditions & Programs (part of the Extreme BMP Makeover project). Prepared by David Hirschman, Laurel Woodworth, and Sadie Drescher Center for Watershed Protection, Inc. Final Draft. June 2009. https://www.chesapeakebay.net/channel_files/19219/cwp_james_river_tech_report_final_draft_062509.pdf.pdf</ref>. Similar results have been revealed from surveys of stormwater detention ponds in Ontario (Drake et al., 2008<ref>Drake, J. Guo, Y. 2008. Maintenance of Wet Stormwater Ponds in Ontario. Canadian Water Resources Journal. 33 (4): 351-368. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.4296/cwrj3304351?needAccess=true</ref>; LSRCA, 2011<ref>Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA). 2011. Stormwater Pond Maintenance and Anoxic Conditions Investigation. Final Report. Newmarket, ON. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2015/01/LSRCA-Stormwater-Maintenance-and-Anoxic-Conditions-2011.pdf</ref>), highlighting the need for thorough inspections of BMPs prior to assumption and a proactive approach to stormwater infrastructure operation and maintenance. Therefore, it is important to conduct timely inspections during construction and detailed inspection and testing prior to assumption to ensure that LID BMPs are:

Stormwater BMPs in Virginia’s James River Basin: An Assessment of Field Conditions & Programs (part of the Extreme BMP Makeover project). Prepared by David Hirschman, Laurel Woodworth, and Sadie Drescher Center for Watershed Protection, Inc. Final Draft. June 2009. https://www.chesapeakebay.net/channel_files/19219/cwp_james_river_tech_report_final_draft_062509.pdf.pdf</ref>. Similar results have been revealed from surveys of stormwater detention ponds in Ontario (Drake et al., 2008<ref>Drake, J. Guo, Y. 2008. Maintenance of Wet Stormwater Ponds in Ontario. Canadian Water Resources Journal. 33 (4): 351-368. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.4296/cwrj3304351?needAccess=true</ref>; LSRCA, 2011<ref>Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA). 2011. Stormwater Pond Maintenance and Anoxic Conditions Investigation. Final Report. Newmarket, ON. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2015/01/LSRCA-Stormwater-Maintenance-and-Anoxic-Conditions-2011.pdf</ref>), LID stormwater infrastructure in Virginia (DelGrosso et al., 2019 <ref> Delgrosso, Z.L., Clayton, C.H., Dymond, R.L. 2019 Identifying Key Factors for Implementation and Maintenance of Green Stormwater Infrastruture. Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment. 5 (3): 05019002. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/JSWBAY.0000878</ref>), and international research reviews (e.g., Blecken et al., 2015 <ref> Blecken, G.T., Hunt, W.F., Al-Rubaei, A.M., Viklander, M., Lord, W.L. 2015. Stormwater control measure (SCM) maintenance considerations to ensure designed functionality. Urban Water Journal. 14(3). 278-290. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1573062X.2015.1111913 </ref>), highlighting the need for thorough inspections of BMPs prior to assumption and a proactive approach to stormwater infrastructure operation and maintenance. Therefore, it is important to conduct timely inspections during construction and detailed inspection and testing prior to assumption to ensure that LID BMPs are:

*Built according to approved plans and specifications

*Built according to approved plans and specifications

*Installed at an appropriate time during overall site construction and with protective measures to minimize risk of siltation or damage; and

*Installed at an appropriate time during overall site construction and with protective measures to minimize risk of siltation or damage; and

[[File:Integrating LID stormwater asset management pic.PNG|thumb|700px|The, "Integrating Low Impact Development into Stormwater Asset Management Programs" course, is a free, online resource for practitioners to learn about  

[[File:Integrating LID stormwater asset management pic.PNG|thumb|700px|The, "Integrating Low Impact Development into Stormwater Asset Management Programs" course, is a free, online resource for practitioners to learn about  

tips on making LID I&M cheaper and easier, recommended inspection types to utilize, and understanding standard protocols and test methods.<ref>STEP. 2022. Integrating Low Impact Development into Stormwater Asset Management Programs. © Copyright 2019 Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Accessed On April 21, 2022. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/events/integrating-low-impact-development-stormwater-asset-management-programs/</ref>]]

tips on making LID I&M cheaper and easier, recommended inspection types to utilize, and understanding standard protocols and test methods.<ref>STEP. 2022. Integrating Low Impact Development into Stormwater Asset Management Programs. 2019. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Accessed On April 21, 2022. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/events/integrating-low-impact-development-stormwater-asset-management-programs/</ref>]]

This Inspection and Maintenance (I&M) page is intended to assist users (municipalities, consultants and property managers) with developing their capacity to integrate LID SWM BMPs into their projects and/or larger infrastructure asset management programs. Sections below provide:

This Inspection and Maintenance (I&M) page is intended to assist users (municipalities, consultants and property managers) with developing their capacity to integrate LID SWM BMPs into their projects and/or larger infrastructure asset management programs. Sections below provide:

*Guidance on recommended inspection, testing and maintenance tasks specific to each BMP type

*Guidance on recommended inspection, testing and maintenance tasks specific to each BMP type

*A summarization of staff skills and equipment required to complete them  

*A summarization of staff skills and equipment required to complete them  

*sampling and testing procedures and protocols  

*Sampling and testing procedures and protocols  

*Estimated costs over a 50 year BMP life cycle.  

*Estimated costs over a 50 year BMP life cycle.  

Drawing upon the information provided on this; and its subsequent page(s) municipalities and property managers will be better able to design or adapt their infrastructure asset management programs to include LID BMPs effectively, and understand the tasks, procedures and estimated costs associated in adequately inspecting and maintaining them.

Drawing upon the information provided on this; and its subsequent page(s) municipalities and property managers will be better able to design or adapt their infrastructure asset management programs to include LID BMPs effectively, and understand the tasks, procedures and estimated costs associated in adequately inspecting and maintaining them.

As a user, to gain a better understanding of critical components and considerations in developing an efficient and effective stormwater asset management program that includes LID practices you can take STEP's free course, [https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/events/integrating-low-impact-development-stormwater-asset-management-programs/|"Integrating Low Impact Development into Stormwater Asset Management Programs"]. This course was developed through the Climate Change Adaptation Platform, with support from Natural Resources Canada and qualifies for 1 continuing development hour (CDHs) for the '''Certified Inspector of Sediment and Erosion Control (CISEC) program'''

As a user, to gain a better understanding of critical components and considerations in developing an efficient and effective stormwater asset management program that includes LID practices you can take STEP's free course, [https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/events/integrating-low-impact-development-stormwater-asset-management-programs/|"Integrating Low Impact Development into Stormwater Asset Management Programs"]. This course was developed through the Climate Change Adaptation Platform, with support from Natural Resources Canada and qualifies for 1 continuing development hour (CDHs) for the '''Certified Inspector of Sediment and Erosion Control (CISEC) program.'''

==Inspection & Maintenance Terminology==

==Inspection & Maintenance Terminology==

===Routine Operation Inspections===

===Routine Operation Inspections===

Routine Operation inspections should be the responsibility of the property owner or their contractors. At a minimum, Routine Operation inspections should occur annually, but twice annually (in spring and fall seasons) is preferable for vegetated BMPs. More frequent inspections may be warranted for highly visible BMPs, those receiving drainage from high traffic areas (vehicle or pedestrian), or those designed with larger than recommended impervious drainage area to pervious BMP footprint area ratio (i.e., I:P ratio). Feedback from inspections should be used to immediately address routine maintenance needs, schedule structural repairs or further investigations into potential problems with BMP function and to adjust the preset schedule of routine maintenance tasks to optimize the use of program resources.

Routine Operation inspections should be the responsibility of the property owner or their contractors. At a minimum, Routine Operation inspections should occur annually, but twice annually (in spring and fall seasons) is preferable for vegetated BMPs. More frequent inspections may be warranted for highly visible BMPs, those receiving drainage from high traffic areas (vehicle or pedestrian), or those designed with larger than recommended impervious drainage area to pervious BMP footprint area ratio (i.e., I:P ratio). Feedback from inspections should be used to immediately address routine maintenance needs, schedule structural repairs or further investigations into potential problems with BMP function and to adjust the preset schedule of routine maintenance tasks to optimize the use of program resources.

===Verification Inspections===

===Verification Inspections===

*For permanent BMPs designed and installed to meet regulatory or municipal program requirements, inspections to verify compliance with ECA or maintenance agreement conditions and associated BMP specific inspection and maintenance plans (i.e., Maintenance Verification inspections) should occur on five (5) year intervals beginning after the date of assumption.  

*For permanent BMPs designed and installed to meet regulatory or municipal program requirements, inspections to verify compliance with ECA or maintenance agreement conditions and associated BMP specific inspection and maintenance plans (i.e., Maintenance Verification inspections) should occur on five (5) year intervals beginning after the date of assumption.  

Maintenance Verification inspections should also be performed when property ownership changes to ensure the new owner is not assuming a BMP that has been neglected by the previous owner, and to help educate the owner about their inspection and maintenance and record keeping responsibilities. Inspection and testing to verify that functional performance remains acceptable (i.e., Performance Verification inspections)should at a minimum, occur on fifteen (15) year intervals beginning after the date of assumption.

Maintenance Verification inspections should also be performed when property ownership changes to ensure the new owner is not assuming a BMP that has been neglected by the previous owner, and to help educate the owner about their inspection and maintenance and record keeping responsibilities.

====Performance Verification====

====Performance Verification====

*More frequent Performance Verification inspections may be warranted for BMPs draining to highly sensitive receiving waters or habitat of species at risk. Testing of functional performance (e.g., surface infiltration rate testing, natural or simulated storm event testing, continuous monitoring) is done in addition to Maintenance Verification inspection indicators (i.e., visual indicators and sediment accumulation testing).

*More frequent Performance Verification inspections may be warranted for BMPs draining to highly sensitive receiving waters or habitat of species at risk. Testing of functional performance (e.g., surface infiltration rate testing, natural or simulated storm event testing, continuous monitoring) is done in addition to Maintenance Verification inspection indicators (i.e., visual indicators and sediment accumulation testing).

Feedback from Maintenance and Performance Verification inspections should be used to initiate compliance enforcement actions if warranted and schedule structural repairs or further investigations into observed problems with BMP function. Each LID BMP's I&M page will provide further guidance on Verification inspection objectives and tasks, timing of inspections and skills required by inspectors along with guidance to what key components should be inspected and what visual and testing indicators should be used along with available structural repair options.

Feedback from inspections should be used to schedule repair or rehabilitation tasks, further investigations into observed problems with BMP function (see Forensic Inspection and Testing section below), or initiate compliance enforcement actions if warranted.

 

Furthermore, blank template field data forms for recording inspection results are provided within each section as well to be downloaded and used for personal use.<br>

 

===Forensic Inspection and Testing (FIT)===

===Forensic Inspection and Testing (FIT)===

Results of FIT work and any corrective actions that follow it should be recorded in BMP inventory and tracking databases maintained by the municipality. FIT work should be performed by individuals trained in, and experienced with inspecting LID SWM BMPs, landscaping, and diagnosing the causes of observed problems with function. Individuals must also be trained in the use of soil sampling and testing and environmental monitoring equipment (e.g., engineer, engineering or environmental technologist). The results of FIT work should be provided to the property owner along with any recommendations for follow-up tasks that arise from them and timeframes for completing them. If the property owner fails to complete follow-up tasks within the timeframe specified by the municipality, enforcement actions are warranted. The nature and severity of enforcement actions will differ depending on the municipality but may include loss of stormwater utility fee credit, billing the property owner for necessary maintenance or repair work completed by the municipality or their contractors, or fines.

Results of FIT work and any corrective actions that follow it should be recorded in BMP inventory and tracking databases maintained by the municipality. FIT work should be performed by individuals trained in, and experienced with inspecting LID SWM BMPs, landscaping, and diagnosing the causes of observed problems with function. Individuals must also be trained in the use of soil sampling and testing and environmental monitoring equipment (e.g., engineer, engineering or environmental technologist). The results of FIT work should be provided to the property owner along with any recommendations for follow-up tasks that arise from them and timeframes for completing them. If the property owner fails to complete follow-up tasks within the timeframe specified by the municipality, enforcement actions are warranted. The nature and severity of enforcement actions will differ depending on the municipality but may include loss of stormwater utility fee credit, billing the property owner for necessary maintenance or repair work completed by the municipality or their contractors, or fines.

==Life Cycle and Inspection==

==Life Cycle and Inspection==

[[File:50 year life cycle LID BMP.PNG|700px]]<br>

[[File:50 year life cycle LID BMP.PNG|700px]]<br>

</br>

</br>

The above figure depicts a typical inspection timeline for LID BMPs over a 50 year life cycle. (TRCA, 2016).<ref>TRCA. 2016. Low Impact Development Stormwater Management Practice Inspection and Maintenance Guide. Version 1.0. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2016/08/LID-IM-Guide-2016-1.pdf</ref>

The above figure depicts a recommended inspection program for LID BMPs over a 50 year life cycle. (TRCA, 2016).<ref>TRCA. 2016. Low Impact Development Stormwater Management Practice Inspection and Maintenance Guide. Version 1.0. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2016/08/LID-IM-Guide-2016-1.pdf</ref>

==Practice-specific Inspection and Maintenance==

==Practice-specific Inspection and Maintenance==

*[[Inspection and Maintenance: Bioretention & Dry Swales]]

*[[Inspection and Maintenance: Bioretention & Dry Swales]]

*[[Inspection and Maintenance: Permeable Pavement]]

*[[Inspection and Maintenance: Permeable Pavement]]

*[[Inspection and Maintenance: Enhanced Swales]]

*[[Inspection and Maintenance: Enhanced Swales]]

*[[Inspection and Maintenance: Vegetated Filter Strips]]

*[[Inspection and Maintenance: Vegetated Filter Strips]]

*[[Inspection and Maintenance: Underground Infiltration Systems]]

*[[Inspection and Maintenance: Underground Infiltration Systems]] (i.e., exfiltration trenches, infiltration chambers and trenches, and soakaways)

*[[Inspection and Maintenance: Rainwater Harvesting]]

==Training Requirements==

==Training Requirements==

==Key Design and Plan Review Considerations==

==Key Design and Plan Review Considerations==

Brief content that points to the full page that shares the same name.

Designing LID BMPs with ease of inspection and maintenance in mind is critical to the affordability of municipal stormwater infrastructure asset management programs and must be considered early on in the plan review stage. Learn more about these common considerations including, providing runoff pretreatment, designing low maintenance conveyance systems, inspection & maintenance of associated features, and inclusion of planting and sediment removal plans.

 

[[Key Design and Plan Review Considerations]]

[[Key Design and Plan Review Considerations]]

==Inspection and Testing Framework==

==Inspection and Testing Framework==

Brief content that points to the full page that shares the same name.

Here you will find the various types of testing to ensure your LID installations are operating at optimal levels and each test is used for specific BMPs. To learn about the associated equipment and training required to conduct tests such as soil characterization testing, sediment accumulation testing, surface infiltration rate testing, natural or simulated storm event testing, and [[green roofs|green roof]] irrigation and leak detection testing, please visit the link below:

[[Testing]]

[[Testing]]

==References==

==References==